Newborn hearing test

When is a hearing test done for newborns​ ?

• A hospital check-up is usually done before you and your baby leave hospital after delivery.

• A home or special clinic check-up can be arranged if this does not happen.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on postnatal care, including newborn hearing tests.

They recommend that your baby's hearing test should if possible be carried out in the first 4-5 weeks after they are born. However, if this is not possible it can be carried out before your baby is 3 months old.

Hearing loss in babies is uncommon, only affecting around one to two babies in every thousand. However, it is important to have these tests done so that your baby can be referred to a specialist if there is any suggestion of a hearing problem. If you suspect a problem with your baby's hearing (for instance if they do not respond to your voice or startle at loud noises) you can discuss it with your doctor or health visitor.

How is hearing checked?

The test most commonly undertaken is the Automated Otoacoustic Emission (AOAE) screening test. It is very commonly done in the first day or so of birth. The test involves a technician placing a very soft probe into your baby's ears which is connected to a machine. This shows how well your baby is hearing.

The test takes just a few minutes and should not be distressing for your baby. You will get the result immediately afterwards.

If this test is not normal then this does not necessarily mean that your baby cannot hear. The test could have been abnormal, or the responses may not have been clear, because of background noise or because your baby was unsettled.

If your baby spent more than 48 hours in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or special care baby unit (SCBU) then they may be offered two different hearing tests - AOAE and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) test (see below).

What if a newborn did not pass hearing test?

If the results of your baby's hearing screening are not clear (in one or both of their ears), they will be given an appointment at a specialist hearing clinic in an audiology department.

If the first test is not normal, your baby may be offered a repeat test.

Alternatively, they may be offered a more specialised test, which is the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) test at a later date. This test involves placing three small sensors, together with headphones, on to your baby's head. The headphones are placed over your baby's ears. The machine measures how well the sounds travel along your baby's hearing nerve pathways from their ear to their brainstem. This test takes between 5 and 15 minutes.

What if the test results are not normal?

If the results of your baby's hearing screening are not clear (in one or both of their ears), they will be given an appointment at a specialist hearing clinic. This appointment usually takes 1-2 hours. Do try to feed your baby before your appointment and bring everything they need to keep them comfortable with you.

Remember that even if your baby needs referral, this does not automatically mean they have a problem with their hearing. A hearing specialist called an audiologist will carry out tests on your baby's hearing. They should be able to give you the results before you leave the clinic. If your baby needs more tests, they will arrange this for you.